CEU and Grad Credit FAQ
CEUs, Graduate Credits, and Grading
for PBS TeacherLine Courses
I. Introduction: National and Local Courses
Please be aware that PBS TeacherLine courses are offered nationally by PBS and are offered locally by PBS course providers. Most policies for local and national courses are similar, but if they are different this document will advise you as such. If you are unsure of your course status, check with your facilitator.
For locally offered courses, more graduate credit opportunities may be available than the ones discussed here. Check with your local course provider for a list of their course offerings and the policies and procedures governing CEU and graduate credits.
II. Continuing Education Units (CEUs)
Learners who successfully complete PBS TeacherLine courses are eligible for CEU credits from most states and school districts. States and districts, however, have their own unique requirements, so you should check with your district or state professional development office to determine eligibility before enrolling.
PBS TeacherLine will provide the following to assist you in earning CEU credits from your district:
1) We will provide you an opportunity to print your own certificate of completion for national courses which will include a letter grade and the hours for the course.
2) We will provide a PDF copy of the course syllabus.
3) We will work directly with your district, if requested. Please use the Contact us form on our Web site or call toll free 1-866-864-0828 during business hours.
ANSWERS TO COMMON QUESTIONS ABOUT CEUs
Can I get CEU credits for PBS TeacherLine courses?
This decision is up to your state or school district. Typically, they will determine eligibility by reviewing your PBS TeacherLine Completion Certificate and course syllabus. The decision to grant credits, however, is entirely that of your state or district.
Check with your state and/or district before enrolling to determine eligibility.
Does PBS TeacherLine offer CEUs directly?
No. PBS TeacherLine is not authorized to grant CEU credits. This is typically done by your district professional development office.
What do I need in order to receive CEUs?
Requirements vary by state and district. You should check with your district professional development office before enrolling. In most cases, you can use a certificate of completion (which you can print directly from the My Courses page on our Web site after completion of the course) and a copy of the course syllabus.
What can PBS TeacherLine provide to help me apply for CEU credits?
1) If you are taking a national course you can download your own certificate. See Print a Certificate in the Help section of the Web site for information on how to print your certificate. For local courses, please contact your local station.
2) You can download your course syllabus from the PBS TeacherLine site, or from within the course.
3) PBS TeacherLine will be happy to speak with your district if they have any questions about CEU credits.
Will I automatically receive what I need from PBS TeacherLine for CEUs?
No, and you must download the syllabus from our Web site and obtain your own certificate. Certificates are available to print for national courses only. For local courses, please check with your station about what documentation they can offer you.
III. Graduate Credits
Learners in select PBS TeacherLine courses can choose between two graduate credit providers: Adams State College in Colorado and Indiana University—Bloomington. The first announcement in each course provides detailed information on how to register for graduate credit.
ANSWERS TO COMMON QUESTIONS ABOUT GRADUATE CREDITS
How do I determine Adams State College or Indiana University-Bloomington offers graduate credit for a particular course?
If a course is approved for graduate credit from these two higher education institutions, it will be noted in our online catalog. Simply click View Details under a course listing and look under ‘Credits’.
How much graduate credit can I receive for each PBS TeacherLine course?
Check your course syllabus to see how many actual hours your PBS TeacherLine course will require of you. Then, use that number to determine how many graduate credits you can earn. You can also double check the amount in the course catalog and with your facilitator in the first week of class. Both Adams State College and Indiana University-Bloomington will offer graduate credit based on the following hours of course time:
• 15-hour PBS TeacherLine course = 1 credit hour
• 30-hour PBS TeacherLine course = 2 credit hours
• 45-hour PBS TeacherLine course = 3 credit hours
Adams State College and Indiana University operate on an academic semester calendar and will award official graduate credit in the semester that most closely follows the end of a PBS TeacherLine course. However, for a nationally offered course, you can print your course completion certificate a few days after your course ends.
Do I have to pay additional money for graduate credit?
Yes. In addition to your course fee, you will have to pay a graduate credit fee directly to either Adams State College or Indiana University—Bloomington. You must pay at the time you register for your graduate credits.
How much do the credits cost?
Please check the following Web sites for pricing information:
Adams State College
http://www2.adams.edu/extended_studies/independent/tuition_rates/tuition_rates.php
Indiana University
https://info.educ.indiana.edu/DistanceEd/Application/aspx/FAQ.aspx
What type of accreditation do the institutions have?
ASC has regional NCATE accreditation as well as national accreditation from the North Central Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools.
IU has national NCATE accreditation and will allow learners to apply up to nine IU graduate credits from TeacherLine courses towards a Masters Degree in Education at IU.
When can I register for graduate credit?
Anytime during the course – from the course start date to the course end date. Use the link on the first announcement in your course. Please do not contact the institutions directly.
How much time do I have to register?
You will have until the course end date (the last day of your course) to register and pay for your credits with either provider.
Can I transfer Adams State College or Indiana University-Bloomington credits into my graduate program?
You should check with your higher education institution to determine how or if they will accept transfers of graduate credits, especially toward degree programs. Typically, transferred credits are only able to be used for elective credits, but some institutions are more, or less, restrictive. Please check with your institution before enrolling in a PBS TeacherLine course.
Where/when can I get a transcript?
Adams State College automatically sends one transcript to the learner's address on file. All other transcript needs must be ordered. Please click on the below link for either Adams State College or Indiana University-Bloomington for more information about obtaining a transcript:
Adams State College transcript information: http://www2.adams.edu/records/trans_req/trans_req.php
Indiana University-Bloomington transcript information:
http://www.indiana.edu/%7Eregistra/Services/trnscrpt.html
Please allow 2 weeks after you course ends to request a transcript. If you receive a transcript with an error, please contact PBS TeacherLine via the Contact Us form or call 866-864-0828, M-F, 9 5:30 ET.
IV. Course Grading
Will I receive a letter grade for a PBS TeacherLine course?
Yes, you will get a grade, regardless of whether or not you elect to pay for graduate credit. Our courses are graded on the following scale:
100-90 = Pass/graduate credit A
89-80 = Pass/graduate credit B
79-70 = Pass/graduate credit C
Anything below receives no grade/credit from TeacherLine.
Generally course elements are weighted equally (discussion board participation, assignments, online journal, and final project). Please ask your facilitator for a specific breakdown for the grading in a course.
Please note: Expectations for TeacherLine courses are high. Deadlines for weekly course material are real and assignments are graded according to rubrics with point scales. Points will be deducted for work that is not turned in on time according to the weekly schedule. Please inform your facilitator beforehand if you will be away from your computer and s/he will advise you if the work can be made up or completed beforehand as an exception.